Gardening

These leafy vegetables are easy to grow in cool weather, spring or fall, in Sonoma County. Plants in an array of colors enliven the garden in the off-season, often indicating spiciness and aroma in the kitchen. Asian greens are known by alternate plant names in different cultures.

Discover how to manage and ID mammal pests at home - effective strategies to protect home and garden from squirrels, gophers, moles, voles, raccoons, and more.

Find out why mushrooms are appearing in your garden, their causes, role in soil health, and if they’re harmful or beneficial to you, pets, and your plants.

Much planning goes into espalier. Pixabay Creating an espalier is an especially fun and rewarding method of growing flowering and fruiting plants in a garden. The process has existed for many hundreds of years and, although challenging for complex forms, is achievable by even novice gardeners.

Got pests or other problems and want to know how to manage them? Here are some of the most frequently asked about and most common plant problems and pests in Marin.

Gary Barnes, Pexels Propagation through cuttings is the process of using a piece of an existing plant and encouraging it to grow into a new plant. Stems, leaves, and roots can all be used for cuttings. This is a good method for woody and herbaceous plants.

Checking your irrigation system periodically to reduce leaks and help conserve water usage. Photo: L Stiles Almost a third of Marin Countys water is used for irrigation. The majority of Marin residents use around 8,000 gallons or less of water per month.

Be part of a wildlife corridor between islands of natural habitat. Photo: Courtesy of UC Regents Habitat gardens provide connectivity Your garden can be a place for pollinators and insects to stop and refuel as they travel through urban, suburban, and wildland areas.

Fall is the perfect time to plant native plants, like this California fuchsia (Epilobium). Photo: Marie Narlock Maintenance and prevention Reduce irrigation times significantly as day length shortens and plant growth slows or stops.

Sharpen your pruners with a file regularly. Photo: L Stiles Good tools need regular care to keep them working properly and safely. Cleaning your tools is also important to prevent the spread of disease-causing pathogens.